Community engagement for policy and systems change

The Health for Oakland's People and Environment Collaborative prioritized building Oakland (California, USA) community residents' capacity to engage in systems and policy changes toward improving food access and neighborhood conditions for physical activity. This article describes the process for community engagement, summarizes results, and analyzes lessons learned from the perspective of existing literature on community building, youth engagement, and empowerment for social change. Several dimensions necessary to build community capacity were used by the Collaborative and created the foundation for empowered residents to work with organizational partners. Evaluation findings from 2009 to 2012 provide examples of strategies that developed leadership skills and brought community residents, including youth, into leadership and decision-making positions. The Collaborative's structure incorporated opportunities for community to lead new and existing food justice programs and advocacy activities. Several lessons from the Collaborative's efforts can inform community capacity practice, such as (1) developing resources and support to build capacity for community residents to meaningfully engage in policy and systems change; (2) considering elements of collaborative structure and its processes, shared power, and decision-making necessary in partnerships among diverse individuals and groups; and (3) incorporating resources and activities that sustain community residents' participation as change leaders.